Whether you believe in a God, the Universe, or some sort of energy or being that is greater than you, there’s no denying the comforting feeling that rises when you receive an omen or a sign: a simple yet serendipitously complex event that assures you that you’re on the right path. It could be the perfect comment or inspiration for us, the needed solution to a problem or even a confirmation that what we are doing is right, or what we know is correct.

At the height of Hollywood blockbuster drama, commonly a character tortured with a choice between two options in the pouring rain is on his/her knees pleading with the sky to somehow show him/her the way… Lightning strikes a tree nearby which explodes in a shimmering electrical fire. The enormous tree topples over and lands on a truck carrying a load of giant-sized novelty children’s block letters which dramatically spill out onto the street spelling out the name of the woman he loves, meanwhile the electrical current surges across the road prompting a motorbike engine to engage… Standing in the glow of the fire a blaze behind him, he knows what he must do next… #drama. However, IRL signs are much more discreet – the Universe gently whispers rather than screams and shouts. But how do you know what to look out for, or the ways in which a sign might appear?

There are many types of signs used by the universe to pass on a message or give us an intuitive nudge. They do not appear all the time, and we cannot summon a sign to immediately appear. But, if you’re tapped into a place where you can listen, they will emerge. It can be something we see on TV, something we read, or something shared by a friend or stranger who is divinely inspired to say what they do. A butterfly may land on your shoulder, or a particular species of bird may catch your eye in the sky. On an average day, there is more information flying around you than you can possibly pay attention to: conversations, webpages, emails, billboards, animals, nature events, songs on the radio, etc. However, the key to determining the difference between noise and a sign is this:

A sign is only a sign when it gives you a strong feeling of knowing as it works in combination with your own intuition.

Signs are tied to intuition, which alerts us to the fact that something we’ve encountered in the world holds a message of significance. Without presence of a sign, your intuition is the answer you wish you could get from the wind and the warning you wish someone would walk right up to you and give you. It’s the deepest connection you have to your innermost self. And being able to quiet all the external noise and influence is key to tapping into your inner-compass, so the first key to recognizing a sign from the Universe is to be in tune with your intuition.

I feel blessed to receive so much guidance from the Universe, and I trust that it arranges things in such a way so as to illuminate my path. However I’ve noticed there’s an absence of signs if I’m not in a good place. Last year, I attempted to dull the emotional and physical pain from a bad back injury, using flowing champagne and endless nights to avoid facing what was going on, and became so out of touch with my true self that I’ve never felt so lost in my entire life. It wasn’t until I came back into myself and began emotional healing, nourishing my soul with meditation and mindfulness that the signs began to reappear. A few months back a rainbow appeared after a sun shower, and the end of the rainbow landed directly on the headland that I’m moving to in a few weeks’ time. Something about the combination of walking in the rain, my good mood elevated by a beautiful rainbow and where the rainbow appeared to land made me feel as if I’d made the right choice, and that moving to a new part of town will bring about positive prospect.

While you cannot know what to look for in a sign, you can know what to look for in terms of guidance. Becoming really crystal clear on what you seek to know, and revisiting it multiple times in the day helps you know only place energy into that channel, but attract this energy back in other ways. Each thought we have creates an energy flow within and around our physical being, and this energy can’t help but attract its likeness. When a sign does arrive, it may feel a bit like magic, but it’s simply your mind knowing what to look for.

Another thing to pay attention to is repetition. These are like little taps on the shoulder from the Universe, trying to get you to notice a theme. Repetition may come in the form of signs, messengers or themes. Some notice the repeated appearance of 11:11, while others may turn on the radio and the same song plays each time. Some are coincidence, but it isn’t just coincidence if it makes you feel like you have uncovered something within yourself.

Commonly on repeat for me, sign appear as quotes. They appear when I’m scrolling through my Pinterest feed, fall out of a crumbling fortune cookie or a street art I spy while driving. When a combination of words catches my eye, it’s like I’m overwhelmed with a wave of energy. My confused thoughts arrange themselves into clarity and I know exactly what to do next. This is because a sign is something that always generates the comforting feeling of ‘knowing’ which cannot be proven to others. Even if we consciously shrug off a sign, a part of us can still remember and take it on board.

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Comments

I’ve been a BLDG25 reader for over 4 years, and I’ve seen it all–the good, the bad, the stuff that’s lovely but is clearly just filler (lookin’ at you, scenes from the office!) but this post has to be, without a doubt, one of the worst I’ve ever seen on this blog. Adding “How To” to the title of an article might be a way to instantly boost traffic, but this article is just BS. I miss the days when this blog showed us FP fashion, FP beauty, and unique DIYs, rather than just ‘inspiration’ and travel photos. I never comment, but I just had to today.

Reading this post gave me chills because it’s exactly what I needed to hear – just last night I prayed and asked for some sign that the universe does in fact listen because I am at a bit of a cross roads – I think this post confirms that it does, it;s always the little things that have a big impact. Thank you, Miann and Free People! I have now another great person to be inspired by!

Fantastic concept for an article! I’ve lived my entire life utilizing omens and signs from the universe in order to survive and it has never failed me, so this is a lovely introduction to the idea of looking to the universe for guidance. (Might wanna fix a few typos, though…)

I love this article and everything it embodies. Becoming more in balance and in tune with the universe has been on the forefront for me this year, and I definitely notice all the small signs more when I am centered and balanced. Energy is amazing. Thank you for this!

Wonderful post, I am so glad I took the time to read this. I love hearing that other women out there are empowering and inspiring others, as I hope to do so myself. The signs are everywhere if you’re listening. I can’t wait to read more from you!